Fabric direction can have a major impact on how a collection looks, feels, and ultimately performs in the market. This season, we’re seeing several fabric requests come up repeatedly from brands looking for materials that feel elevated, distinctive, and built for real-world wear. Here are three fabric directions worth keeping an eye on when sourcing for your next collection. Tactile, Textured Weaves Texture is becoming an increasingly important part of fabric selection. Think boucle, jacquard, and other woven constructions with visible dimension and depth. These fabrics bring something to a collection that can often be seen before the garment is

For sourcing managers, having a large supplier network can seem like the safest strategy. More suppliers can mean more options, additional backup capacity, and less dependence on any single factory. There is a difference between diversification and fragmentation. When a brand spreads its production across too many suppliers, each partner may only see a small portion of the overall business. A brand with 10 factories, for example, may have its volume divided into small pieces across each relationship. That can make it harder to become a priority when factory capacity gets tight. It also creates more relationships to manage, more

“Cut out the factory middleman and go direct.” It is a common conversation in the apparel industry, especially for brands looking to reduce production costs. At first glance, working directly with a factory can seem like the obvious choice. If there is no partner between the brand and the factory, the assumption is that the brand will save money. But the direct price is only one part of the equation. The Hidden Work Behind Going Direct Working directly with a factory means taking on responsibilities that an experienced apparel production partner would typically manage. For brands without established sourcing and

The apparel industry has changed dramatically over the last 30 years. The fundamentals of building good product and good business have not. Over three decades in the apparel industry, we have watched technology transform how products are designed, communicated and manufactured. Fax machines gave way to email and text. Hand-drawn sketches evolved into 3D modeling. Manufacturing footprints shifted as entire countries rose and fell as production destinations. We have worked across more than 70 countries and watched the industry continually adapt to new tools, markets and challenges. The pace of change can make it easy to assume that everything about

One of the most important stages in apparel production happens between the pre-production sample and bulk manufacturing. While the two should ultimately represent the same finished product, they are created in very different environments—and understanding that difference can help brands set realistic expectations for production. What Is a Pre-Production Sample? A pre-production sample, often called a PP sample, is the final sample a brand reviews before a factory moves into bulk production. It is designed to represent what the finished garment should look and feel like, incorporating the decisions and revisions made throughout the sampling process. The factory uses the

Unpopular opinion: Most brands don’t have a minimum problem. They have a style and assortment problem. Minimum order quantities are one of the first concerns we hear from brands entering the manufacturing process. The assumption is often that a smaller minimum will make it easier to launch a collection, manage cash flow and reduce inventory risk. While minimums are certainly an important part of the manufacturing equation, they are not always the root of the problem. More often, the challenge starts with how a brand has structured its assortment. We regularly see brands come to the table with 12 styles

After more than 30 years in the apparel industry, Stars Design Group has seen countless startups, entrepreneurs, and emerging brands make the same mistakes when launching their first products. The good news? Most of these mistakes are avoidable. For new apparel brands, understanding where things commonly go wrong can save time, money, and a lot of unnecessary stress. Here are five of the most common mistakes first-time founders make when bringing an apparel product to market. Starting With Too Many Styles One of the biggest mistakes new brands make is trying to launch with too many different styles. It may

Growing an apparel brand is exciting, but scaling successfully requires more than increasing production. True scaling means building the systems, supply chain, financial foundation, and operational infrastructure needed to support sustainable growth without sacrificing quality, customer experience, or profitability. Many brands assume it’s time to scale when orders increase or inventory starts selling out. While those can be positive signs, the decision to scale should be based on a combination of market demand, operational readiness, and financial strength. When Is It Time to Scale Your Apparel Business? There isn’t a magic revenue number that signals it’s time to scale. Instead,

Fashion trends do not emerge overnight. By the time a silhouette becomes widely visible in retail, it has often been influenced by cultural shifts, consumer behavior, runway collections, material innovation, and evolving ideas around how people want to dress.  Image Credit Zara For brands developing Spring/Summer 2027 collections, understanding these shifts early can create an important advantage. Trend forecasting is not about predicting one look that everyone will wear. It is about identifying emerging directions, understanding why they are gaining momentum, and determining how those ideas can translate into commercially relevant products.  Early SS27 collections are pointing toward a season